OBESE women are 40 per cent more likely to get certain kinds of cancers than their slimmer counterparts, say scientists.

Being grossly overweight increases their risk of developing at least seven forms of the disease – including tumours in the bowel, breast, gallbladder, womb, kidney, pancreas and gullet.

And with 28 per cent of women in Scotland classed as being obese, experts say that there is a greater cancer risk north of the Border.

Obese women have around a one in four risk of falling victim to a cancer associated with their excess pounds during their lifetime.

For every 1,000 overweight women, an alarming 274 will be diagnosed with a weight-linked cancer, compared to 194 in the same number of women of a healthy weight.

Losing weight isn’t easy, but women don’t have to join a gym and run miles every day or give up their favourite food for ever

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK says that obesity could increase the risk of cancer because of a link between fat cells and the production of hormones – especially oestrogen, which is believed to fuel the development of the disease.

Around 1,800 women in Scotland are among 18,000 across the UK who develop cancer as a result of being overweight each year, the charity said.

Dr Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “We know that our ­cancer risk depends on a ­combination of our genes, our environment and other aspects of our lives, many of which we can control.

“Helping people understand how they can reduce their risk of developing cancer in the first place remains crucial in tackling the disease.

“Lifestyle changes – like not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and cutting back on alcohol – are the big opportunities for us all to ­personally reduce our cancer risk.

“Making these changes is not a guarantee against cancer, but it stacks the odds in our favour.”

The charity is encouraging women to take up healthier lifestyles by signing up to take part in its Race for Life events this year.

Related articles

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman for Scotland, said: “Losing weight isn’t easy, but women don’t have to join a gym and run miles every day or give up their favourite food for ever.

“Just making small changes that can be maintained in the long term can have a real impact.

“Signing up to take part in Race for Life is a great way for women of all shapes and sizes to commit to get a little more active.

“Race for Life events are non-competitive. Taking part is not about being fit or fast and participants can choose to walk, jog, or run around the course. The atmosphere is incredibly supportive and pledging to take part, alongside thousands of like-minded women, is a great motivation to get fitter as well as raise money for life-saving research.”

Globally 500,000 cancer cases could be attributed to patients being overweight, the World Health Organisation found.

Experts added that if British women continue to pile on the pounds, it will lead to 4,000 extra cases of cancer a year by 2026.